Molding strip and attaching means



July 16, 1940. I A. DOPPLEB 2,208,542

MOLDING STRIP AND ATTACHING MEANS Filed June 29, 1938 D9 INVENTOR. Y i i WM x 24 4111 ATTORNEY6.

Patented July 16, 1940 PATENT OFFICE MOLDING STRIP AND ATTACHING MEANS Albrecht Dopmeb, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor to Paul Benninghofen and Fritz G. Diesbach, Hamilton, Ohio, trustees I I Application June 29, 1938, Serial .No. 216,558

3 Claims.

' This invention relates to moldings or decorativestrips to be attached to various metal articles such as store fixtures, cabinets, and the like.

The present invention has particular reference to improvements in the molding and the fastening means for mounting the same. The molding is of the snap-on variety in which the fastenin means for the molding is concealed beneath the molding when it is mounted or applied over the fasteners. Moldings of this kind are applied on panels or wall surfaces usually after the surface has been painted or finished, and are preferably of metal, polished to provide a decorative bar or series of bars in contrast with the surface of the panel.

The attachment of moldings in such manner to conceal the attaching devices has been practiced either by nailing or other means, as permitted by the material at the line of application.

In the present improvements the moldings are particularly designed for application to small cabinets or articles formed of sheet metal, such.

as autographic registers. The molding strips or bars are channel shaped in cross section and are relatively narrow in order to be in proportion with the size of the articles to which they are applied. By reason of the narrowness of the strips, the number of strips employed in some embellishments and their close spacing in other arrangements, it would be quite difiicult and expensive to provide separate securing devices small enough for a snap-on, concealed attachment. This problem has been overcome by entirely eliminating theseparate fastening means and providing instead, means formed bodily from the sheet metal wall, to receive the moldings. The channel shaped moldings are sprung or snapped in place and securely held in close contact with the wall or panel surface.

It has been an object of the invention to provide a molding and a simple and inexpensive attaching means for securely attaching the molding to the article or panel and concealing the attaching means.

It has been another object of the invention to provide a molding which is readily applied to the article or panels without marring the finish and which is readily detachable for refinishing the panel surface.

Still another object of the invention has been to provide an attaching means especially suited for narrow molding, or group installations of moldings, formed integrally with the panel to Which-the molding is to be attached, thus requiring no separate fastening device andfacilitating close or group application of narrow molding for unusual embellishment.

Briefly, one embodiment of the present'concept takes form in a molding of substantially channel or U-shaped cross section applied over tangs projecting integrally from the article or panel forlsecuring the molding, thus providing snap fastening for. the molding.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the specification with reference to theaccompanying drawing, in Whch:

Figure 1 is a face view showing the improved molding strips applied on a panel or wall surface.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 illustrating the progressive steps in applying the molding over the tangs formed in the panel.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the panel with the molding removed to illustrate the anchoring tangs.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 3.

In the present example, the molding strips indicated at 5 are of the type best suited for use on small cabinets such as autographic registers and the like. The molding is generally U- shaped, or of channel form, in cross section and preferably formed of light gauge springy sheet metal. The panel or wall 6 is provided with a plurality of circular anchoring tangs or spurs I struck or punched outwardly from the body of the panel or wall at an angle to the surface of the panel.

The molding is applied as shown in Figure 2 by simply pressing the same downwardly over the tangs to effect a snap fastening.

In the present form the anchoring tangs are circular and are bent upwardly at an angle. Therefore, they spread the molding when it is forced thereover. The side portions or walls 8 of the channeled molding as viewed in cross section, are turned inwardly until they are spaced apart a distance less than the width of the tangs. Thus, the snap-on engagement with the tangs 5 is provided. When the molding is applied, the edges of the walls 8 contact the rounded side edges of the tangs and the walls are sprung apart thereby, as shown in Figure 2. After the edges pass the widest part of the tangs, the side walls 8 spring toward each other drawing the molding firmly and closely into contact with the surface of the panel.

The tangs or spurs thus provide a very secure fastening for strips of molding of any desired length and permit a certain amount of longitudinal adjustment in arranging the molding or bars since the series of tangs need not extend the full length of the moldings.

While the present structure is especially advantageous in applying narrow moldings, it is quite as effective for wider moldings, as these can be accommodated simply by increasing the width of the anchoring tangs.

Ordinarily in attaching the molding to sheet metal structures, it would be necessary to either drill and tap a series of holes or to solder or otherwise secure the molding to the structure. In either case the operation would be diificult and would entail considerable labor. The efliciency and economy of the present arrangement is quite evident when this is considered. Moreover, the construction is superior in workmanship and strength to the known structures heretofore employed and lends itself readily to production methods of manufacture. 7

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. Molding attachment structure comprising a panel consisting of a sheetofmetal having circular tangs struck from the surface thereof, said tangs disposed at an angle to the panel and each attached thereto along a peripheral edge, which edge is less than half of the length of the entire peripheral edge of the tang, and a molding strip of channel form formed of springy metal and having its side walls inclined toward each other and spaced at their edges a distance of less than the width of the tangs, said molding strip engaged over said tangs.

2. A moldingattachment means comprising a panel consisting of a sheet of metal having flared tangs projecting from the surface thereof at an angle, which is less than a right angle, and a spring steel channel engaged over said tangs, said spring steel channel normally of a width of less than the greatest Width of said tangs whereby the channel snaps into position over the tangs and hugs the face of the panel.

3. A surface embellishing means comprising a fiat sheet of metal having tangs struck from the surface thereof, said tangs in each instance comprising a portion of the metal disposed at an angle to the flat sheet of metal and of reduced width at the point of connection, and a molding strip of channel form attached to said flat sheet of metal upon said tang, said molding strip including flexible arms, the ends of said arms normally spaced apart a distance less than the greatest width of the tang and engaging the tang at the point of connection to the flat sheet and lying in snug engagement with the fiat sheet of metal.

ALBRECHT DOPPLEB. 

